At June 2013, the estimated resident population of the Northern Territory (NT) was 240,800 people, which represented 1.0% of the total Australian population. The population increased by 4,900 people since June 2012. The NT's growth rate was 2.1%, which was higher than the national figure of 1.8%.

At June 2013, the population of Greater Darwin was 136,200 people, which accounted for 57% of the NT's total population. In 2012-13, the population of Greater Darwin increased by 3.0% (3,900 people), the second-fastest growth of all capital cities, behind Greater Perth (3.5%).

Greater Darwin consists of the SA3s of Darwin City, Darwin Suburbs, Litchfield and Palmerston. Of these SA3s, Palmerston grew the most (up by 1,500 people) in 2012-13. Within Palmerston, the largest growth was in the SA2 of Rosebery - Bellamack (up by 630 people) and Palmerston - South (350), both of which contain newly developed suburbs.

The Darwin Suburbs SA3, which is a mixture of residential and commercial/industrial land, increased by 1,300 people. In Darwin Suburbs, the SA2 of Lyons on the northern fringe of Darwin, had the largest and fastest increase, up by 230 people (9.9%), followed by Nightcliff, which grew by 220 (5.5%).

Litchfield's population increased by 560 people to reach 20,900. This SA3, which is predominately a rural residential area, is located on the outskirts of Darwin and Palmerston. The largest growth was in the SA2 of Humpty Doo (up by 220 people), followed by Howard Springs (140).

The population of the SA3 of Darwin City grew by 530 people to reach 25,900. The fastest-growing SA2s in Darwin City were Parap (up by 4.7%) and Darwin City (3.6%). Woolner - Bayview - Winnellie (a mixture of residential and commercial/industrial areas) and Fannie Bay - The Gardens both grew by 2.2%.

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH(a), Northern Territory

ERP at 30 June

Population Change

2013p

2012r-2013p

SA2

no.

no.

%

LARGEST GROWTH

Rosebery - Bellamack

5 000

630

14.3

Palmerston - South

560

350

169.2

Lyons

2 500

230

9.9

Humpty Doo

8 700

220

2.6

Nightcliff

4 300

220

5.5

FASTEST GROWTH(b)

Rosebery - Bellamack

5 000

630

14.3

Lyons

2 500

230

9.9

Nightcliff

4 300

220

5.5

Parap

2 300

110

4.7

Berrimah

2 900

110

4.0

(a) All population figures presented in this table are rounded. Estimates of population change are based on unrounded numbers.

In the 12 months to 2013, the rest of the NT grew less than Greater Darwin, increasing by 950 to 104,500 people.

All SA3s within the rest of the NT increased in population. The SA3 of Daly - Tiwi - West Arnhem, which surrounds the Greater Darwin region, recorded the largest growth (up by 290 people), followed by Alice Springs (280) and Katherine (240).

SA2s within the rest of the NT with the fastest growth were Thamarrurr on the south-west coast of the Top End, and West Arnhem (both up by 1.8%), followed by Tiwi Islands and Alligator (both 1.6%). Katherine had the largest population increase of all SA2s outside of Greater Darwin, up by 160 people.

At June 2013, the population density of the NT was 0.2 people per square kilometre (sq km), the lowest of any state or territory. Greater Darwin also had the lowest population density (43 people per sq km) of any Greater Capital City.

The SA2s within Greater Darwin with the highest population density were Nightcliff (2,900 people per sq km) and Wagaman (2,800) in Darwin Suburbs, and Bakewell (also 2,800) in Palmerston.

Between 2012 and 2013, the SA2s which had the largest increases in population density were Rosebery - Bellamack (up by 200 people per sq km) and Nightcliff (150).

The centre of population for the NT at June 2013 was roughly 50 kilometres south-west of the town of Katherine. The centre moved 34 kilometres north in the ten years to 2013. This reflects strong population growth in Greater Darwin.

The centre of population for Greater Darwin at June 2013 was in the suburb of Berrimah, south of the Stuart Highway.